Turkey’s pandemic strategy hinges on hazmat-suited gumshoes

ISTANBUL (AP) — They see themselves as public health detectives, working 24/7 to track the coronavirus’ insidious spread through a country of 83 million. Turkey’s contact tracers blend door-to-door hoof-work with mobile apps, CCTV footage and, if needed, police backup. Instead of global testing, Turkey has based its pandemic response on partial lockdowns and work by an army of contact tracers, who identify people possibly infected by a COVID-19 patient. And both Turkish government and local World Health Organization officials say the tactic has paid off. The health ministry says tracers have reached 722,000 people who had contact with an infected person since March 10.